Microporous nickel phosphonate derived heteroatom doped nickel oxide and nickel phosphide: Efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 405; p. 126803
• Main Authors: Bhanja, Piyali, Kim, Yena, Paul, Bappi, Kaneti, Yusuf Valentino, Alothman, Asma A., Bhaumik, Asim, Yamauchi, Yusuke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Metal oxides; Metal phosphides; Metal phosphonates; Microporous; Oxygen evolution reaction; Metal oxides; Metal phosphides; Oxygen evolution reaction; Microporous; Metal phosphonates
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.126803

New microporous organic-inorganic hybrid nickel phosphonate material has been synthesized via non-templated hydrothermal pathway, which can be pyrolyzed in air and nitrogen atmospheres to produce heteroatom-doped NP/NiO and NO/NiP materials with good electrocatalytic activities for oxygen evolution reaction. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of NiPPA derived heteroatom doped material NP/NiO, NO/NiP by pyrolysis.•NP/NiO material exhibited excellent electrocatalytic behavior.•Overpotential and Tafel slope of NP/NiO are 332 mV and 65.6 mV dec−1.•NP/NiO reveals the excellent stability up to 15 h. Designing low-cost and highly efficient electrocatalysts based on widely abundant elements is highly desirable for future green energy production. Transition metal oxides and phosphides have recently been demonstrated to be promising and cost-effective electrocatalysts due to their distinct surface properties and good conductivity. Herein, we have synthesized a new microporous organic-inorganic hybrid nickel phosphonate (NiPPA) material under hydrothermal reaction condition without the use of structure directing agent. The microporous NiPPA material can be converted to N, P-codoped nickel oxide (NP/NiO) and N, O-codoped nickel phosphide (NO/NiP) following pyrolysis under air and nitrogen atmospheres, respectively. These high surface area materials are subsequently explored as electrocatalysts towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. Among the three catalysts, NP/NiO exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity for OER with an overpotential of 332 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 65.6 mV dec−1 in 1.0 M KOH solution. Furthermore, the as-prepared NP/NiO catalyst displays an outstanding stability over a period of 15 h, suggesting the high durability of this catalyst for OER.